Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-05-25
ARCHITECT HAMILTON
Takes tho Stand in Nindication of Him
self,

self.
To uS E,iRor u N. R6gisic.
WHEELING, w. Va, May 23, 1887.
GENTLEMEN beg of you small
space in your columns, that may make a
statement in regard to the late competi-
ton? for plans Tor the First ward school
building. My excuse for tardiness IN this
matter is that was not prepared TO sub
stantiate the facts in the case before this
time. ] will preface this article with the
statement that | am going II complain ol
the treatment ] have received nj the
hands of some members Of the Board
of Education, and defend myself against
the Implied charge of idiOsy made against
me by said parties and accepted 10y the
Board ~ facts, b ecause il had been guilty
of preparing drawings in the manner and
style for as important work ~ that pro
ected, AZ was reported to the Board, ! was
every inch sublime idiot, but the facts
in the case being the direct oppo-
site in many Cases-as ! will cite
and am prepared 10 proye,-and ! am
naturally anxious tO remove the stigma
To begin, the Board Of Education advcr-
tised for q competition in drawings for q
new school biilding for the First ward. ]
did not intend to compete, because thought
land said il WIS no use for me 10 10 do,
hut at the solicitation Of many friends
and big taxpayers tool did 40, in order
To prove my assertion. IL IL needless 10
say | sustained it, although ! was the
only one that complied strictly NTH h'
terms Of the advertisement.
This competition was declared of and a
new deal ordered. Feeling confident that II
price and accommodations were an object
to the Board, that had the very plans
they wanted, revised the old ones aud
submitted them again, together with a
security bond OF $2j 900 that the building
could be built for that sum. The result II
too well known to rehash here. i do not
complain OF my failure, but what do com
plain Of il this: That aud my designs have
been grossly misrepresented, whether
through malice, ignorance, envy or want oi
thought ! Am unprepared 10 say, hut the
fact Of its having been done remains, and
the result has not contributed to my stand
ing AZ n builder 10 any remarkable extent.
The following arc some Of the unjust and
false criticisms made of my designs that
am willing and anxious 10 disprove, and
will do so TO any one applying TO me
and examining the drawings submitted,
which can lie seen at any tine by those
desiring at my Office, No. FL Twentieth
street:
Criticism No. 1.-THE rooms were too
small" The facts are the rooms are all
capable Of accommodating fifty and sixty
scholars each, and all authorities agree that
the maximum number OF scholars 10 any
room should not exceed forty.
No. 2.-"The walls were not heavy
enough, none exceeding 3 inches" Mean
ing brick or superstructure walls The
facts are that all outside walls are sinchss
thick and in eight cases buttressed, while
all partitiOn walls are l3 inches tbirk.
Criticism No. 3-''Tbc building IL three
stories high" She kscts are the building IL
a two story brick building containing six
teen school rooms, eight 20 floor, set on
a stone foundation, basement 70 contain
heating apparatus, in strict compliance
witbthe advertisement, for frst eompe.
t.tioD.
Fourth eriticism-''The long corridors
are only lighted and ventilated by two (2)
ordinary windows and are consequently
dark and undesirable" The facts are they
are lighted with eight (s) large windows
and nineteen transoms two feet by three
feet; these corridors are l12 Seet loag and
nine wide, average.
Number 5.-''The outside steps At rear
are nineteen (19) feet high" The facts
n